Seabird members' magazine spring 2014 final

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wonders of nature Scottish Seabird Centre Members’ magazine

Majestic nature and intriguing history:

Wings over the Isle of May 18 Jewel of the Forth 20 Photographs and fond memories

Scottish Seabird Centre and the environment Sustainability and the environment are at the heart of everything we do. We have produced this magazine in an environmentally-friendly way! If you would like to receive your magazine by email, please contact membership@seabird.org or call +44(0)1620 890202.

Also, sign up to our enewsletters and be kept up-to-date with our news.

News

05 News from around the Centre

Features

10 Picture perfect 16 Dolphins diving deep 18 Jewel of the Forth 20 Photographs and fond memories 32 Year of brilliant moments 34 2014: the year of John Muir 36 Professor Egghead

Regulars

24 Gift shop 26 Café 28 Volunteers 30 Boats 38 Education 40 Wildlife Club 42 What’s on 46 Kids

Visit us

Find us

February, March, September and October Monday – Friday 10:00 – 17:00 Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 17:30 April – August Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00 November – January Monday – Friday 10:00 – 16:00 Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 17:00

Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, EH39 4SS W: www.seabird.org E: info@seabird.org T: +44(0)1620 890202

Design: Various / www.various.uk.com

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Welcome from Tom There is a real buzz at the Centre as much of our local wildlife returns and our team is gearing up for an exciting season ahead. There’s a lot to look forward to with our ever-popular Professor Egghead returning with a brand new interactive show; we will be keeping our eyes peeled for the return of the puffins from April onwards and we have another beach clean planned following the success of last year’s amazing efforts.

I would like to say a huge congratulations to all the winners of our Nature Photography Awards. With the most entries to-date and the highest standard of pictures we have ever received, competition was extremely tough and the winning pictures are truly stunning.

This Easter we celebrate the first anniversary of our catamaran!

Our custom-built boat had a brilliant first season and we are looking forward to another great year ahead.

Thank you for your continued and valuable support.

Tom Brock OBE Chief Executive

Update from Laura What a quick year it has been! Now I’m back from maternity leave and raring to go! I would like to say a special thanks to everyone who supported my maternity cover, especially Noelle, who did a fantastic job.

You will see that we have a new look for our members’ magazine, which I hope you like. Although the look has changed, there are still lots of fantastic articles and striking images, which we know you

all love. If you have any suggestions of things you would like to see in our magazine, please let me know. Your ideas are always welcome!

There’s a lot to cover in this edition, including what we have planned as part of the John Muir Festival. With events taking place across the country we are really looking forward to being part of this very special celebration.

With the John Muir Walk

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

leaving from the Centre on 22 April, we hope to welcome lots of members in the morning to join in the fun!

Laura Adamson Magazine Editor and Marketing Manager

04 Special thanks The Scottish Seabird Centre is an independent charity dedicated to inspiring people to appreciate and care for wildlife and the natural environment. Registered Scottish charity no.

SC025837. Registered in Scotland no. 172288.

Special thanks and editorial contributions

As an education and conservation charity, our work would not be possible without support and funding from organisations, trusts and donors. In this edition of the magazine we would like to say a special thanks to the following:

Editorial contributions This issue contains articles from three valued contributors.

to be a TV presenter or press journalist. Read Lindsay’s article on page 18.

Keith Broomfield Born in Edinburgh, Keith Broomfield’s interest in wildlife has been his over-riding passion since early childhood when he spent much of his time exploring the embankments of a disused railway line behind his house for its wide range of bird and animal life. A Zoology graduate from Aberdeen University, Keith writes a weekly nature column for The Courier newspaper.

Read Keith’s article on page 16.

Celine Marchbank Celine Marchbank is a documentary photographer specialising in British based stories. She completed an MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at The London College of Communication in 2010, and since then her work has been nominated for numerous awards. Based in London, Celine spends her time working for commercial and editorial clients, whilst also undertaking personal projects.

Her work has been published widely including features in The Telegraph Magazine, The Independent Magazine, as well as being exhibited around Britain and internationally. www.celinemarchbank.com Read Celine’s article on page 20.

The Robertson Trust and the Hugh Fraser foundation and Cairn Energy for continued and generous support of our education work.

Mainstream Renewable, Nimar Charitable Trust for support of the external sculptures comprising the Gateway Project.

East Lothian Council for continuing their Community Partnership Funding.

Nancy Roberts Trust, JTH Trust and the Mackintosh Foundation for their support of Professor Egghead.

Photography credits Images bring our magazine to life! We would like to say thanks to the following photographers: Laura Adamson, Sean Bell, Laurie Campbell, Celine Marchbank, Lesley Martin, Malcolm McCurrach, Rob McDougall, Greg McVean, Helen Pugh, North Berwick Photographic Society/Ian Goodall, WDC/Charlie Phillips, Wild Spring Festival/Keith Kirk.

Lindsay Hart Lindsay Hart is an S4 student at North Berwick High School, who is delighted to have had the opportunity of undertaking a variety of assignments for our magazine. Her favourite subjects at school are English, Music and PE. Outside school, Lindsay enjoys playing sports, including badminton and netball, she is a keen dancer and proud to be associated with the East Lothian guiding movement. She is a regular presenter of The North Berwick High School Bell, a show broadcast on East Coast FM, East Lothian’s community radio. Lindsay has journalistic ambitions and her dream is

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

05 News If you’d like us to cover a particular story just send your suggestion to Laura at marketing@seabird.org

News from around the Centre

Recycle today A whopping £2,213 – that is how much you have raised for us by sending in your used ink cartridges and old mobile phones to our charity recycling partner, recycle4charity.co.uk.

Gannet Watch The Woodward family from Stockport were revealed as this year’s Gannet Watch Champions! What a few weeks we had with all eyes on the Bass Rock cameras as visitors jostled to be crowned our champion. Below are Sam, Amy, Stanley, (6), Elsie (4) and Fred (2), congratulations!

But now we are setting you a new challenge: to raise even more much-needed funds! It really couldn’t be simpler: just pop your used ink cartridges and old mobile phones in the envelope provided and put it in the post. It won’t cost you a thing!

If you are visiting the Centre you can drop it off at the admissions desk and we will post it for you. Each returned cartridge will earn us £1 whilst some phones can benefit us by as much as £30.

You’ll see the envelope in your newsletter is clearly marked Scottish Seabird Centre and the barcode ensures that all income is returned to us.

Just let us know if you need more envelopes!

We’ve raised a whopping

£2,213 but we’d like more!

Discovery Centre Manager, Andy Dickson said:

Don’t forget you can watch the gannet action from home on our webcams – just visit www.seabird.org Members can also control the action on camera for free in the Discovery Centre.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

06 News

Congratulations to Dawn!

We would all like to say congratulations to our Retail Assistant, Dawn Melville, who recently got engaged.

Dawn tells us: “Graeme popped the question while we were on holiday to Cagliari, Sardinia, in October last year.

On our last day, we climbed to the top of St Pancras tower, the highest point of the city, to see the amazing views. It was quite early in the morning so there were only two other tourists at the top.

We took in the views then Graeme asked the other tourists if they could take our picture. As I handed over my camera, Graeme asked “Do you know how much I love you?” and there he was down on one knee with the ring!”

What a wonderful story!

Worthy winners In our last spring edition of the magazine we ran a competition for Private House Stays with the chance to win a weekend at the wonderful Aurora Bed and Breakfast in Gairloch. The lucky winners were Victoria and Graeme Balnaves-Aitken.

Aurora has taken a special place in their hearts. Not only that but we were delighted to hear of the safe arrival of Chloe Aurora on 9 January 2014!

Congratulations to the Aurora family on their new arrival. www.privatehousestays.com Used stamps for cash We have launched a fundraising initiative with our volunteers which helps you get rid of unwanted used stamps (foreign and British). If you cut the stamps off mail you have received and give or send them to us, we can send them to be recycled for cash – please just ensure there is no more than 1cm of envelope around each stamp but not trimmed too close that the perforations are damaged. We need lots of stamps to make it worthwhile so why not start collecting now and let us know you’re doing it by emailing fundraiser@seabird.org or giving us a call. There is also a collection box at our admissions desk.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Come and join us:

Turn the tide on litter Marine litter can be fatal to seabirds and other marine wildlife, and is damaging to our environment too. Join us, East Lothian’s Countryside Rangers and North Berwick in Bloom for a fun and rewarding community beach clean on Saturday 19 April, 11:00 – 13:00.

Last year, a strong army of volunteers helped us remove ten full bags of rubbish from North Berwick’s East Beach.

Thank you to everyone who helped us!

Our forthcoming spring clean forms part of the Clean-up Scotland Campaign organised

by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

No need to book – just join us on the day. Litter pickers, bags and gloves all provided.

Clothing and study footwear for all weathers recommended.

Join us for a community beach clean.

Saturday 19 April, 11:00 – 13:00.

07 News

A turtle (and ray) takeover

Learn how you can help to conserve these incredible animals.

Those who have visited the Centre recently, may have noticed a few changes!

Our Environment Zone has been transformed into a brand new area: the Turtle and Ray Zone.

Further developments are still taking place but currently visitors can find out more about some of the world’s largest fish and one of the world’s

most ancient creatures, the sea turtle. The exhibition features stunning photographs, top facts about each of the species and their connections to Scotland’s seas. Did you know the largest of all turtles, the leatherback, has been spotted in the Firth of Forth and fifteen different species of rays and skates are found in Scottish waters? Sadly, turtles along with many rays and skates are critically endangered. Learn how you can help to conserve these incredible animals in our fantastic new Discovery Centre attraction.

Celebrate World Turtle Day and join the Marine Conservation Society for a Turtle Takeover Day on Saturday 31 May. More information will be on our website soon.

Fidra at the forefront In the Discovery Centre we have been making some changes to our interactive live cameras. Where we had the Fidra camera, we now have the Fidra Zone, with not one but two live interactive cameras to zoom in on the wonderful wildlife action!

The island of Fidra is an RSPB reserve and believed to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

This small island is about three miles (4.8km) from the Scottish Seabird Centre and with grassy slopes and cliffs, it is home to fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, gulls and puffins.

During spring there are fantastic views of nesting fulmars and another of our celebrity characters on this island is the peregrine falcon.

So make sure you pop along this Easter to make the most of these fantastic new cameras!

This small island is home to fulmars, guillemots, gulls, razorbills and puffins.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

08 News We have unveiled an impressive arch of steel to our collection of artworks, created by renowned artist Diane Maclean.

Gannet gateway lands

In December, we welcomed the first of two highly anticipated public art sculptures.

Diane Maclean’s winning arch design, as voted for by the public from 30 original sculpture submissions in 2011, was deemed to best establish a ‘strong sense of place and belonging while reflecting the unique heritage and environment of the historic area around the Seabird Centre’.

Diane’s stunning artwork now creates a unique feature entrance to the harbour, the Centre and the historic Anchor Green. The form of the new arch reflects the re-created whalebone arch on top of local landmark, North Berwick Law, as well as the arched doorway forming the entrance to the historic old kirk adjacent to the Seabird Centre. The Law can be viewed from the harbour, framed by Maclean’s arch.

Perhaps best known in Scotland for her public art works in Dundee, including the bird sculptures On The Wing at Dundee Airport and Dundee DNA, which sits on the city’s East Dock Street, Diane Maclean prides herself in working as often in Scotland as possible, given her mother is from the Black Isle and her husband’s family from Skye. However, Maclean’s popularity has seen the artist receive recent commissions from Keele University for its 50th anniversary and Ekeberg Sculpture Park in Oslo.

Maclean’s sculpture for the Scottish Seabird Centre consists of three stainless steel gannets positioned over the arch, one taking off, one in full flight and one starting to dive: the natural light on the polished surfaces is eye-catching and the different angles of the birds’ wings collects light from many viewpoints.

Diane Maclean says: “In shaping the birds out of stainless steel we used structural material, a stainless steel rod, which is quite flexible so could be curved and shaped. I worked with the team at the Blake Group and we welded these rods into an inner shape for the bodies and heads, made the wing structures and clad each bird with sheet stainless steel. This involved a huge amount of welding of the many joins and then grinding down the surface to make it smooth. The beaks and tails were then shaped and welded on.

“The sculpture looks very simple, but there is also amazing quality in the curving and polishing of the arch. The tube material has 8mm walls (for strength and resistance in the high winds) which made it harder to curve and the tube available at this strength came with an unpolished surface which had to be meticulously polished to give the final finish.”

Tom Brock adds: “The arrival of this exciting sculpture at the Seabird Centre was a great moment for us as we continue to support art to inspire people to appreciate our amazing wildlife. The Centre features outstanding and innovative photography, sculptures, painting and architecture. The installation of this wonderful sculpture in 2013 was very appropriate in the Year of Natural Scotland.

“We are very grateful to everyone that has supported this wonderful initiative, in particular Creative Scotland. We are also grateful to everyone that voted in the public competition to choose the winning sculptures. This arch will enhance a very special place and, I am sure, become a well-known and iconic landmark.”

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

This arch will enhance a very special place and, I am sure, become a well-known and iconic landmark.

10 Feature We’re really excited about the overall quality of all the submissions – amazing!

A bumper crop:

What a year it has been for our Nature Photography Awards. Now in their eighth year, our prestigious awards attracted a record level of entries across the seven categories and more than 100 stunning images were shortlisted.

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Public Choice Winner Isla Sneddon

Worldwide Wildlife Winner Pui Hang Miles, runner-up Joe Burn, highly commended Luca van Duran, commended Ally Hansen

Entries were received from amateur photographers across Scotland, the rest of the UK, and internationally, with images submitted from Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary and the USA. The judges were Lorne Gill, the award-winning official photographer at Scottish Natural Heritage; outstanding freelance photographer Graham Riddell; and Scottish Field editor Richard Bath.

The winning images were announced on the 27 February at a fantastic ceremony at the Centre. Congratulations to all our winners and runners-up.

Our 2014 competition is now open. Visit www.seabird.org/ photography for more information. Best of luck!

Picture perfect 02

Landscape Winner Gary Killon, runner-up Gary Killon, highly commended Alastair White, commended John Mackle 03

Creative Visions of Nature Winner Neil MacGregor, runner-up Lolly Twigg, highly commended Katrina Martin, commended Ruth Mitchell and Tom Gardener 04

Environmental Impact Winner Robin Tolladay, runner-up Robin Tolladay, highly commended Ann Jeffray, commended Luis Martin 05

World Flora Winner Sue Dudley, runner-up Bruce Ponder, highly commended Fiona Govan, commended Katrina Martin

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

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Scottish Wildlife Winner Neil MacGregor, runner-up Bob Humphreys, highly commended Rob Schulze, commended Tom Gardener and Sue Dudley 08

Juniors (12 – 16) Winner Inga Zurhelle, runner-up Catherine Sim, highly commended Imogen Kell 09

Juniors (under 12) Winner Oliver Stevens, runner-up Finn Zurhelle, highly commended Finn Zurhelle

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Dolphins diving deep It was an enthralling sight that was accompanied by shouts of excitement from our two children.

As the dolphins moved across the bay it was even possible to see the animals breaching clear of the sea.

17 Feature Our friend, PR-guru and wildlife expert, Keith Broomfield, dives into the world of dolphins.

A few years ago when walking with my family along the coastal path just to the south-east of St Andrews in Fife, we spotted a large school of bottlenose dolphins about 800 yards or so from the shore. The sea was enveloped in rolling mist, but the sun was successfully beginning to burn it off, which seemed a good opportunity to scan the water with my binoculars in search of seabirds. But instead of gulls and terns, my eyepieces filled with the unmistakeable profile of the rolling fin of a dolphin.

unusual to see bottlenose dolphins close to the two pier heads, and which seem amazingly non-plussed by the frequent passing by of oil supply ships.

As the mist quickly peeled back many more dolphins appeared, some leaping spectacularly clear of the water. It was an enthralling sight that was accompanied by shouts of excitement from our two children. As the dolphins moved across the bay it was even possible to see the animals breaching clear of the sea against the backdrop of the spires and buildings of St Andrews.

Cetacean expert Vincent Janik of the Scottish Oceans Institute at the University of St Andrews tells me that there are two main populations of bottlenose dolphins found around Scotland. The largest group comprises just under 200 animals and is found along the east coast. As well as the already mentioned sites, other reasonably reliable places to spot dolphins include

But this is not as surprising as it might seem, for dolphins can often be seen close to our coastal conurbations. On my regular visits to Aberdeen I almost always make a point of stopping off at the car park at Torry Battery that overlooks the harbour entrance. Here, especially in winter, it is not Image © WDC/Charlie Phillips

The Moray Firth is Scotland’s renowned spot for dolphins and on one occasion when walking along the beach by the village of Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, a solitary dolphin appeared so close to the shore that I could hear the noise of the air being expelled through the blowhole on top of its head.

the mouth of the Firth of Tay (Broughty Ferry Castle is a good viewpoint) and also at Anstruther in Fife on the outer edge of the Firth of Forth.

“We are able to estimate the size of the bottlenose dolphin population by using photoidentification techniques that can differentiate between the unique nicks and notches on the fins of individuals,” explains Vincent.

Other types of dolphin are found around Scotland too – such as the common dolphin, white-beaked dolphin and Risso’s dolphin – but they tend to be more offshore in their habits and are therefore not seen nearly so often. Dolphins are long-lived animals and have only been studied in more recent times, which make it difficult to determine any long-term trends in numbers, but indications suggest that at least the eastern Scottish population is probably stable, which is great news.

Note: a pod of bottlenose dolphins has already been spotted this year from the Seabird Centre so keep your eyes peeled the next time you visit!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Isle of May:

18 Feature

jewel of the Forth

North Berwick High School pupil, Lindsay Hart, delves into the history of the mysterious Isle of May.

With many seabirds nesting on the rocky coastline, the Isle of May is best known amongst nature enthusiasts for its vast array of feathered inhabitants. Few know of the island’s fascinating, dark history, rich with tales of Vikings, smugglers and Scotland’s very first lighthouse.

It is believed that the island’s name is derived from the Norse phrase ‘Maa Oy’, meaning ‘Gull Island’, which is a fitting title as there are currently around 250,000 seabirds nesting on the land.

The earliest signs of human activity to be found on the Isle were ancient flint arrow heads and pieces of a stone axe and pottery, dating back to 2000BC, discovered in the chapel in recent years.

During the Dark Ages, in order to convert people to Christianity, missionaries arrived in the North of Scotland from Ireland, including an Irish priest named Adrian, who came to Fife. In 669 he was brutally murdered on the Isle of May by raiding Vikings and it is thought that a small church was later created on the Isle, in his honour.

Two-hundred-and-fifty years later, King David I of Scotland gave the island to Reading

Abbey, who built what is now known as St. Adrian’s Priory. However, when war occurred between Scotland and England, the priory became the property of the Bishop of St. Andrews.

As the building fell into disuse, English invaders seized the opportunity to steal the island’s treasures and damage the buildings with fire.

Although most monks had now left the island, many pilgrims still visited, with the most famous being James IV, who came often between 1490 and 1509 to worship. Over the centuries, however, many stopped making the journey.

The island had started to get attention from pirates and smugglers, meaning that the church was instead converted into a defended house.

In 1636, Scotland’s first lighthouse was built on the island, preventing ship wrecks and saving many lives on one of the country’s busiest shipping routes. Disaster struck in 1791, when the lighthouse keeper, his wife and five children were found dead in their beds due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Luckily, a young boy who was sent to find out why the lighthouse wasn’t lit, discovered a baby girl still alive. In a romantic tale,

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

they later married as adults and migrated to the States to start a life together.

The lighthouse became redundant in 1816, when Robert Stevenson’s more modern Main Light took over.

While Stevenson planned to demolish the old lighthouse, it was saved by Sir Walter Scott who believed that keeping the lighthouse would make the island more picturesque for possible ‘sea-bathers’ in the future.

Although Sir Walter Scott had predicted the island’s later popularity, he had not imagined that the birds themselves would be the island’s biggest draw. In 1934, Scotland’s oldest bird observatory was founded on the Isle of May, allowing wildlife enthusiasts to come to the island. Today, visitors flock there in spring and summer, during which time it is one of the biggest breeding colonies in Scotland.

Not only a major landmark, internationally important for its population of breeding seabirds, the Isle of May has an intriguing history that is well worth exploring.

Don’t forget: we run boat trips to the May and you can zoom in with our Discovery Centre cameras.

20 Feature Documentary photographer Celine Marchbank visited the Isle of May for several weeks, over a sevenmonth period, for a special project.

At the beginning of April last year I found myself aboard a small vessel heading to the Isle of May. I’ve been going to Fife for photography related stuff for a few years now and always found myself staring out to the island with intrigue, with its spooky deserted buildings silhouetted against the sunset.

I always wondered what went on there. I’m a documenting photographer and have always been fascinated by isolated places and always wanted to photograph one.

My intrigue was heightened greatly after hearing from a Fife local that some nights they have ‘burn nights’. Being in Scotland I assumed she meant Robert Burns night, but no ‘burn nights, where they just burn things!’. Right, I thought, I must go!

The island, less than one mile long and without any signs of human life, started coming into focus, it felt rather dreamlike, like I had been here before, like I knew it already, it was a strange sensation. After a bumpy landing we made it in the tiny harbour where I could see silhouettes of the people awaiting our arrival. I was greeted from the boat and shown around by Dave the island warden, the man who kindly agreed to me staying and photographing the island.

Whilst the island is not technically that isolated, it’s only a short boat ride from the mainland, it certainly seems isolated when the boat drops you off and leaves you on an island with a group of strangers and no way off.

I spent my first week on the island just getting used to life in this environment, which involved amongst other things; lots of being outdoors all day (bliss), watching birds (though I never really knew what I was looking at), sea air, crashing waves, early mornings, passing ships, submarines, boat arrivals, some rain, binoculars, puffin counts, puffins burrows, puffin watching, bird ringing, bird talk (again didn’t really know what was going on here), drift wood, burning drift wood (though this took place in the fireplace as apparently the ‘burns nights’ do not exist), shower bans, water shortages, jokes and singing, whisky nights and good banter. Oh yes, and

some photography, forgot about that.

The day I left the island a deep sense of sadness came over me: the island is its own world, you really have no connection to the outside one and that means you leave all your normal life stuff on the mainland. The Isle is not just isolated physically but mentally too, it cleared out the worries that were in my head and I felt some peace.

So after spending many enjoyable weeks on the island over the space of seven months, I’m now left with many photographs and perhaps even more fond memories. I’ve started the process of reviewing and editing the project, with the plan to producing a book and exhibitions (hopefully in Scotland) this year.

My island blog posts can be read here: www. celinemarchbank.wordpress. com

I found myself aboard a small vessel heading to the Isle of May. Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Photographs and fond memories

Island hopping

Celine said:

I spent my first week on the island just getting used to life in this environment... puffin counts, puffins burrows, puffin watching.

24 Gift shop Our Gift Shop manager, Marion, has introduced lots of fantastic new suppliers. Here’s a little sample of what’s on offer.

Retail therapy:

delicious, natural, nutritious, inspired, peaceful, stunning, indulgent.

Skye Glen Indulgent, delicious and Scottish – that is how Skye Glen describe themselves and this is absolutely right! Their yummy tablet, fudge and macaroons have been flying off the shelves since they were introduced to our gift shop.

Skye Glen offers traditional Scottish tastes made with the best quality produce, all free from artificial colours.

Prices from £2.75.

Black and Gold Louise Elder started Black & Gold in the harvest of 2010, after reading about the nutritional properties of cold pressed oil. Today many of our vegetable oils are highly processed, using heat and chemicals. The overall balance of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids in the oil conforms to the World Health Organisation’s international guidelines. This means that Black & Gold may be superior to oils commonly used for cooking, such as sunflower and extra virgin olive oil, due to its favourable Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio and antioxidant content.

By cold pressing the oil, the levels of naturally occurring antioxidants, the original flavour, viscosity and taste are beautifully preserved.

Hugh Elder chose the name Black & Gold because of the contrast of the black seed in the sheds at harvest time with the rich gold liquid that is released. Prices from £2.25.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Bertie Girl Bertie Girl makes unique handbags and accessories from Harris Tweed and the range includes bags, corsages and some ‘Charlie the pointer’ inspired poo bag dispensers!

Bertie prides herself on innovative, quirky themes in her designs and is happy to be an exponent of the Handmade in Scotland brand where there is no compromise on design and quality. Due to the fact they sometimes use small fabric runs, many of their items are one-offs and the vast majority are limited edition. Plus their products are robust, practical and very stylish! Get your own poo bag from our gift shop priced £13.50.

Sheila Galbraith Sheila is a local jewellery designer who takes her inspiration from the sea and from the beach: she spent some months working in New England and is also influenced by the nautical, crisp, clean and peaceful colours that are so prevalent there.

For her jewellery she likes to work with glass beads and sterling silver findings to create pieces of jewellery for everyday wear: she carefully balances the colours and different sizes of beads in the pieces she makes. Sheila says: “Spending time in bead shops looking for the perfect beads for my jewellery and pictures holds the same fascination and excitement for me as exploring the beach after the tide has gone out.” Sheila’s stunning designs are available in the shop from £10.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

26 Café With new menu items and award-wins, the Seabird Café is looking forward to an exciting season ahead.

We hope to see you for a cuppa or two!

Tasty treats and scrumptious scenery Quiet times, relaxing times and family times.

Our ever-popular Seabird Café, overlooking some of the best scenery on the east coast of Scotland, will be welcoming a few changes in time for Easter and the summer season.

As we continually strive to provide the best we can for our customers, we are looking at new furniture and developing new menu ideas.

We are working on a new menu as we speak, which will feature delicious new items with more fresh fish, new sandwich fillings, fresh salads, Fairtrade products and locally-sourced produce.

Our food is prepared by our fantastic chef, and ‘team café’, and we try to keep the use of frozen and pre-packed food to a minimum. That means extra-enjoyable food for our Seabird Café customers.

Not only that, but we are delighted to announce that we have met the criteria for Taste our Best. This initiative, launched by VisitScotland with support from the Scottish Government and Scotland Food and Drink, brings together the tourism, food and drink industries to recognise businesses which not only offer a quality food and drink experience, but include and promote Scottish produce on their menus to give consumers choice. Well done to our operations and café teams who have secured this fantastic accolade!

Feast your eyes on the magnificence of the Bass Rock.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

27 Café

Win! Would you like to sample some of our new Seabird Café treats? You could win a lunch for two up to the value of £30. All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is email info@seabird.org with your name, address and phone number – and the email subject Café Competition.

If you don’t have email, feel free to give us a wee call and we can take your details over the phone +44(0)1620 890202. A name will be selected at random by 31 July 2014.

Good luck!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

28 Volunteers Fundraising, fireworks and friendship – all in a day’s work for our wonderful volunteer group, led by Sandy Forrest.

If you could spare a couple of hours once a week, or just the odd evening...

The Volunteer Group has remained busy in the second half of 2013 and into 2014.

In October we held a Thistly Cross Cider tasting followed by an auction. We received lots of donations of treasures from friends and supporters to make the auction an exciting affair which raised a considerable sum of money, due in no small part to our excellent auctioneer, Charlie Marshall.

The Fireworks Night in November raised a small sum through the sale of wine, while we enjoyed the excellent fireworks set off by members of the Yacht Club, and feasted on soup and warm rolls. The Christmas Coffee Morning in December at the Hope Rooms, was our most successful ever, raising over £700.

Our February event was a Jumble Sale plus Bric a Brac, something that we have not held for a number of years and it was a great success.

Many other events will follow throughout 2014 – we do need lots of new ideas.

All of these events are held primarily to raise funds so that

we can assist the Seabird Centre with special projects that they are planning. For example, last year we donated funding towards the Professor Egghead laboratory and towards the purchase of new telescopes for the Scope Deck.

Fundraising is of course only a part of our activities.

Many volunteers are involved in meeting visitors to the Discovery Centre and enhancing their experience by demonstrating use of the camera controls or highlighting the wildlife of particular interest for the time of year. Others chat to visitors as they leave the Centre, gaining feedback on their experiences, while some prefer to assist with tasks highlighted by Centre staff, such as attending outside events like the Bird Fair, or ‘hosting’ internal events in the Seabird Centre or even assisting in the preparation of props for the Mini Makers team.

Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends, and renew close ties with those Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

we have not seen for a while.

We hold fortnightly meetings over coffee in the Seabird Café, and monthly meetings to discuss possible future events. We do some business but also have a great deal of fun, and we really do need more volunteers to help with all the things we do. If you could spare a couple of hours once a week, or just the odd evening, please get in touch via the Office, admin@seabird.org

Come and join us:

Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends, and renew close ties with those we have not seen for a while.

Join us!

Become one of ‘the vols’.

30 Boats Our catamaran celebrates its first birthday this Easter!

What a year it has been!

Here’s a snapshot of all the fantastic boat trips on offer.

31 Boats

A bounty of boat trips As valued supporters of the Scottish Seabird Centre, all our members get a 10% discount on our boat trips, so we thought we would give you a little reminder of all the different options that are all must-do experiences.

Seabird Cruise: Our custombuilt catamaran celebrates its first birthday this year! On board, enjoy the wonders of the Firth of Forth at a leisurely pace. This hour-long trip is suitable for all ages and there is room to move around and take those all-important photos. Prices: £17 for adults, £9 for children aged 3 to 16, £15 for concessions (students and OAPs). Children under 3 years go free. Family tickets are available (2 adults and 2 children) £47 plus £8 per additional child.

Seabird Seafari Bass: An incredible one-hour trip to Craigleith and the Bass Rock travelling back along the coastline past the mighty Tantallon Castle on our rigid inflatable boat (RIB). Suitable for age 8+ but not for anyone who is pregnant or has back issues. Prices: £22 for adults and £17 for children under 16.

Seabird Seafari May: We offer two types of half-day landing trips to the Isle of May, a National Nature Reserve, owned and managed by

Scottish Natural Heritage.

The first is an amazing RIB trip which enables people to roam the island at their own pace.

The second is a photographic trip which gives you exclusive access to the island, ensuring minimum disruption to the wildlife and allowing for unique photo opportunities. Suitable for age 8+ but not for anyone who is pregnant or has back issues. Prices: £45 for adults and £39 for children under 16.

Photographic trips are open to age 16+ only.

Bass Landing: Our exclusive Bass Rock landing trips are an unforgettable experience for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. With a highly experienced crew and guide there is the opportunity to witness the amazing spectacle of chumming (gannets diving for fish at 60mph/100kmph!) and the awesome sight of the

150,000 strong Bass Rock gannet colony. Suitable for age 8+. Price: £120 per person (including landing fee).

All our boat trips can be booked in advance online at www.seabird.org – and we strongly advise you do this whenever possible! It is essential for the Bass and May landing trips.

Your guests can also save money by purchasing boat trip and Discovery Centre tickets together for a great day out at a special discounted price.

For full details, terms and conditions, plus all other essential information, please visit our website.

Something for everyone:

Seabird Cruise Seabird Seafari Bass Seabird Seafari May Bass Landing Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

32 Feature There are a lot of wonderful events taking place across Scotland this year as we celebrate Homecoming. Here is a snapshot of some we thought might be of interest.

Year of brilliant moments!

2014 is a momentous year for Scotland where not only will we welcome the world for the 40th Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games, but we will celebrate all that is great about our country as part of the second Year of Homecoming. The yearlong programme running throughout the year until 31 December 2014 will highlight a wide variety of music, drama, dance, art and cultural events across the country, from mass participation to small community activity.

Events will fall into five themes: creative, active, natural, ancestry, food and drink. So whether you prefer feasting on seafood to throwing yourself down a mountain on a bicycle, we don’t mind as long as we can inspire you to understand its importance and come visit.

So what is Homecoming Scotland? Homecoming is a celebration of Scotland; an opportunity for locals to celebrate their ‘home’; for those with links to Scotland to explore their heritage, and for those outside to discover all Scotland has to offer, from the wild rugged, natural landscapes of the Highlands to the historic urban beauty of cities such as Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Set this against a fabulous backdrop of stunning scenery and a warm Scottish welcome renowned across the world, and we have a year of brilliant moments on offer!

Not only are we hosting two of the major sporting events in the world, but there are already more than 430 events in the year-long Homecoming calendar – from StAnza Poetry Festival in March to Bannockburn Live in June, the Knockhill 40th Anniversary of the British Touring Car Championships in August, to the World Sheepdog Trials in September.

What makes 2014 so special is the fact that there really is something for everyone – whether it’s longing to hear the skirl of the bagpipes at Pipefest Stirling, sampling a traditional Highland Games, climbing to the top of the Forth Road Bridge as part of the Forth Bridges Festival, sipping on a single malt as part of Whisky Month or mixing with the best of today’s music performers at The MTV Europe Music Awards. We have so much to look forward to!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Here is just a taste of some of the exciting things that Homecoming Scotland 2014 has in store.

John Muir Festival 17 – 26 April Across Scotland The John Muir Festival will celebrate the life and legacy of John Muir, a Scots born naturalist and founder of America’s National Parks, taking place along the length of the John Muir Trail, a new national pathway that stretches from Dunbar in the East to Helensburgh in the West.

Dumfries and Galloway Wild Spring Festival 5 April – 5 May Across Dumfries and Galloway Featuring more than 100 events, Scotland’s largest and longest running wildlife festival will in 2014, present its biggest programme. The festival will also mark the Year of Homecoming by celebrating the species that ‘come home’ to the region for spring, including ospreys, pied flycatchers and basking sharks.

33

St Magnus Festival 20 – 26 June Orkney This prestigious festival is renowned for its unique blend of world-class performance and community participation against the stunning backdrop of Orkney in midsummer. In 2014 the programme centres around ‘Home is where the Heart is’ with a week-long festival of music, dance, drama and the arts.

Bannockburn Live 23 – 24 June Stirling Over two days, thousands of people will come to the site of the Battle of Bannockburn and experience an event like no other – a unique take on this turning point in Scotland’s history. Visitors will be able to experience the infamous 1314 conflict with a battle reenactment designed to bring history to life. A once-in-alifetime weekend showcasing a range of music, literature, crafts and food and drink.

Forth Bridges Festival 2014 4 – 13 September Lothians An international celebration in honour of the unique and distinct, lasting impression of the Forth Bridges. The Festival will bring spectacular events to the areas surrounding the iconic Forth Bridges in order to celebrate the 50th Birthday of the Road Bridge.

Need more information?

For more information and for wider event listings, please visit www.homecomingscotland.com

Shetland Nature Festival 5 – 11 July Shetland Nature Festival is a week-long celebration of Shetland’s unique natural heritage, with a range of events throughout the islands including nature walks, craft activities, family days, talks and much more. 2014 will be the 7th annual festival, which will once again be teaming up with Geopark Shetland for European Geoparks Week, a Europe-wide festival aimed at raising public awareness of geoconservation and promoting geological heritage through a range of activities and events.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

34 Feature John Muir (1838 – 1914) is the founder of the modern conservation movement and the first person to call for practical action to safeguard and cherish the world’s wild places.

Read on!

2014: the year of John Muir Festival running from 17 – 26 April: Celebrating the life and legacy of pioneering conservationist John Muir.

The John Muir Festival 2014 celebrates the life and legacy of pioneering conservationist John Muir and marks the opening of a new national pathway: the John Muir Way, named in his honour.

Running from 17 – 26 April, this signature Homecoming Scotland event includes the spectacular opening of monumental sculpture The Kelpies in Falkirk; the official opening of the John Muir Way; community and artist-led performances and installations along the new trail from Dunbar to Helensburgh, and a firework finale at Loch Lomond.

Produced by UZ Arts, The John Muir Festival is funded

by Scottish Natural Heritage, Homecoming Scotland and Creative Scotland.

The Festival curtain raiser will be a spectacular night-time outdoor arts event over two nights on 17 and 18 April in the new Helix Park near Falkirk, home to the monumental sculpture, The Kelpies.

First Minister Alex Salmond officially opens the new John Muir Way in Dunbar on 21 April, where visitors can visit John Muir’s birthplace and museum.

Rich with landmarks, views and fascinating history, the new coast to coast lowlands trail echoes John Muir’s own personal journey growing up in Dunbar before travelling to the west coast of Scotland to set sail for a remarkable life in America.

A variety of artists begin the 134 mile odyssey along the John Muir Way visiting selected hotspots daily.

Ramblers, runners and cyclists will be invited to carry Muir-themed flags while smaller flags designed by local schoolchildren will be used to mark points of interest along the length of the John Muir Way. A gang of bearded John Muir lookalikes will provide fun photo opportunities as well as thought-provoking quotes from Muir’s writings.

A ‘caravan obscura’ will provide a new perspective

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

on the surrounding landscape.

There will be seed bombing with Scottish wild flowers.

A stylised tree will be raised, with much ceremony at the launch and finale in tribute to Muir’s enduring love of giant sequoias. And in a quieter, more reflective artistic tribute, an American and a Scots poet will walk the length of the John Muir Way at their own unhurried pace, planting native seeds and reciting poetry along the way.

On the morning of 26 April, the Festival will reach the end of the John Muir Way in Helensburgh on the same Clyde coast 11-year-old Muir and his family sailed en route to a new life in America. Appropriately – for the founding father of the US National Parks – a street ceilidh and firework Festival finale is planned at Scotland’s National Park at Loch Lomond in the evening of 26 April.

Why an arts festival for an environmentalist and conservationist? Well, John Muir was many things – explorer, geologist, botanist, inventor and farmer – but he could not have had such a lasting impact, had he not been such an eloquent, persuasive and lyrical writer.

Without doubt, John Muir was a prose writer with a poet’s heart.

Full details of the programme www.johnmuirfestival.com

Don’t miss!!

On Monday 21 April, the first day of the John Muir Walk will finish at the Scottish Seabird Centre at around 16:00. There will be all sorts of activities and a special John Muir cruise. Not only that, but the Walk will depart from the Centre on Tuesday 22 April at 10:00 – so come to see us and be part of this very special occasion!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

36 Feature Back by popular demand, Professor Egghead takes on a brand new challenge for the Easter holidays.

Turtles, puffins and terns make it an adventure not to be missed!

Professor Egghead and the survival of the fittest

This Easter, the Professor is preparing for the adventure of a lifetime with the help of loyal friends Percy the puffin, Tommy the tern and Teresa the turtle. To celebrate the Year of Homecoming and all things John Muir, the Professor will unveil John Muir as an inspiration!

Live shows:

With the same sense of adventure and curiosity as the renowned conservationist, Professor Egghead will follow the incredible journeys of Percy, Tommy and Teresa to discover what it takes to survive in the wild. Who has the toughest journey? Who faces the wildest adventures?

Who will be crowned the champion of the sea?

Taking place daily in the Wildlife Theatre, 5 to 21 April, 14:00 – 15:00. Included with admission and FREE for members.

Find out the answers to these questions and cheer on the Professor who will face many challenges in a mission to complete a John Muir Award, in this brand new show.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Matthew Pearson from Dunbar Primary School, who dressed up as John Muir for our photography.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

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38

Our Education Officer and Scotland’s Teacher of the Year 2013, Jenny McAllister, gives us an insight into the mysterious world of rockpools.

Who doesn’t love a guddle in a rockpool! From lifting a rock to finding a cheeky crab or a stunning starfish, to studying the adaptations of these incredible creatures, there are learning opportunities for everyone. I have been rockpooling as part of my job at the Scottish Seabird Centre for four years now and I still carry a guide book with me as there are so many plants and animals and I am always learning about these fantastic miniature worlds.

I want to share some of the most interesting things I have learned in those four years…

As part of the John Muir Festival we are encouraging everyone to get out, discover and explore the natural environment but please remember his ethos: “Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories”. I share this with every school visit.

As part of the rockpooling workshop it is important that those taking part understand and respect the fragility of the environment so as not to damage it. We work closely with the East Lothian Ranger Service so we can monitor and protect this special place through education. To do this we have rockpool rules. These include never rockpooling in the same area more than once

a week and we never use buckets and nets.

Rockpool rules: Rockpooling tools: the only tools we take are our hands, some magnifying glasses and some id books.

No nets: dredging the bottom of a rockpool disturbs the natural environment and can damage delicate creatures. If you can’t pick it up with your hands just look with your eyes.

No buckets: rockpool animals don’t like to be exposed and crabs don’t want to share a small enclosed space with another crab – did you know crabs and hermit crabs are cannibals? Have a look but always return the animals to exactly where you found them – they may have eggs. The way I describe it to the children is: you wouldn’t like a giant to take the roof off your house, carry you miles away and put you into someone else’s house!

Rocks: most of the animals have adapted to the harsh environment which can include exposure to the sun and dry rockpools. Some take cover in their own shells and others hide in the damp spots under rocks and seaweed. If you lift a rock or some seaweed, be sure to return it to the same spot as it could be offering protection to several animals.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Wiggle rule: this applies to all plants and animals – give it a gentle wiggle, if it doesn’t move then leave it where it is.

Never kick, pick, prod or pull anything out of a rockpool.

Tides: for your own safety always check the tide times before you go rockpooling.

Shells: leave the shells on the beach, they can provide new homes for other animals.

Like an African safari, a ‘seashore seafari’ requires patience and a sense of adventure. The animals can hear and feel us coming and will hide to protect themselves.

Here are my top tips to seeing the most: Sneak up on the rockpool, then sit quietly at the edge and watch it come to life Make sure your shadow doesn’t fall onto the rockpool Lift rocks and seaweed very gently Do not stand in the rockpool.

So get out, explore, have fun and remember the rules. If you find anything unusual or interesting take a photo and let us know. If you don’t have a book I can recommend Seashore Safari by Judith Oakley and Seashore by Collins Gem, both of which are available in our gift shop.

Rocking the rock pools Fabulous facts: Starfish can lose an arm, to a hungry crab or gull, and then grow it back again Limpets and starfish can and do fight!

Limpets move around when the tide is in and always return to the exact same spot on the rock, which leaves a scar. They can range up to three metres Hermit crabs move house from shell to shell as they get bigger The cushion star lives for approx. eight years and lives for the first four years as a male before changing into a female.

40 Wildlife Club

Meet one of our Wildlife Club members – Jack Maxwell Rigby!

Age: 11

Our fabulous Education Assistant, Karen Riddle, rounds up what the Wildlife Club has been up to and interviews one of the young nature enthusiasts who is a member.

For the third year running, North Berwick Wildlife Watch entered the UK Wildlife Watch Group of the Year competition hosted by The Wildlife Trusts.

In 2011 we came second (also winner in the Best New Group category), and for 2012 we were Highly Commended.

Today there are over 400 Wildlife Watch groups throughout the UK, and we were delighted to be voted the third best of them all!

To enter the competition, North Berwick Wildlife Watch had to submit a yearbook of all our activities in 2013. We decided to be environmentallyfriendly and produce our yearbook digitally, which also means that we can email it to the volunteers, sponsors, and funders who kindly support our work. Putting together the yearbook makes us realise just how much we did in 2013:

Lives: North Berwick When joined Wildlife Club?

In April 2012 when I was in Primary 5.

We took part in garden bird, earthworm and eider duck surveys We learned about red squirrels with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and sea turtles with the Marine Conservation Society We put up nest boxes, pulled up weeds and picked up beach litter – all in our local environment We got crafty with leaves, recycled materials, tarpaulins and cameras We enjoyed trips to Our Dynamic Earth, National Museum of Scotland, Scottish Owl Centre and on the Seabird Centre’s new catamaran And much much more!

North Berwick Wildlife Watch meets at the Scottish Seabird Centre on Friday afternoons during school term. We have three different groups to accommodate primary school children of all ages. If your child has a passion for learning about and taking care of our natural world, please email education@seabird.org for further information.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Why joined?

Because Jenny came up to my school to give a talk about the Wildlife Club. I thought that it sounded like good fun and I love being outdoors exploring, also lots of my friends already went to the Wildlife Club.

Most memorable moment?

I have two most memorable moments. One of the best days was last summer when we went for a trip out to Craigleith and the Bass Rock on the new catamaran – the Seafari Explorer. It was the first time that I had ever been on a boat and it was a lot of fun. We got to see gannets, puffins and seals.

The other best moment was when we went to Yellowcraigs to learn about den building and survival skills. I enjoyed it so much that I have asked Jenny if we can do it again before I leave the Wildlife Club in the summer.

What is the best thing you have learnt?

I think the best thing that I have learnt was when Jenny showed us how to make fire using a flint and steel. I had always wanted to know how that was done.

Favourite animal?

My favourite animal is a wolf because I like how they look and because of their ability to hunt in packs. They are awesome animals.

Wildlife wins!

42 What’s on There is a lot taking place around the Centre over the coming months, for people of all ages. Don’t miss out on the fun!

APRIL Professor Egghead and the survival of the fittest Saturday 5 April to Sunday 21 April, 14:00 – 15:00

The Scottish Seabird Centre’s scientist extraordinaire, Professor Egghead, returns with a brand new, interactive family show. The Professor will follow in the footsteps of conservationist John Muir and set off on an adventure to experience what it takes to survive a year in the wild: who is the strongest, the bravest and are you fit enough to complete the adventure?

Community beach clean Saturday 19 April, 11:00 – 13:00

Join us on a fun and rewarding community beach clean to help turn the tide on litter.

Meet on North Berwick’s East Beach, outside the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Join us on a fun and rewarding community beach clean to help turn the tide on litter.

Celebrate John Muir Day Monday 21 April, from 14:00

Celebrate the life of conservationist John Muir and the adventure and curiosity in which he experienced in our natural world. Discover why he is Professor Egghead’s hero in our live theatre show (14:00), welcome cyclists completing the newly launched John Muir Way as they reach their first leg of the journey, see the world in a new light in a ‘caravan obscura’ and experience North Berwick’s wild places in a late afternoon cruise around the nearby islands. Special challenges and activities in the Discovery Centre will prepare budding wildlife explorers to experience nature the John Muir way!

Experience the John Muir Way Tuesday 22 April, from 10:00

Be part of the official launch of the John Muir Way! Join others and walk through the North Berwick roads, pathways and landscapes that form part of this iconic route.

Exhibition: Bass Rock – Home of the gannets To Tuesday 6 May, opening hours, Picture Gallery

An exhibition of photographs, prints and paintings celebrating the spectacle of Bass Rock and the thousands of gannets who return each year to nest.

The Bass Rock has captured the imagination of artists for centuries and here the differing styles and techniques reveal how the drama, mystique and sheer scale of this wildlife wonder continue to inspire artists working today.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

MAY Puffin Fest Friday 16 to Monday 26 May

Scotland’s first ever festival of all things puffin comes to the Seabird Centre. Enjoy all sorts of puffin-tastic activities for the whole family. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!

Mega Mini Makers: Turtle take over Saturday 31 May, 14:00 – 16:00

Learn all about one of the world’s most ancient creatures and join the Marine Conservation Society for a turtle take over at the Scottish Seabird Centre! Meet the experts and join in fun activities.

JUNE Mega Mini Makers: Wild about Art Saturday 21 June, 14:00 – 16:00

Get involved in National Recycling Week and turn everyday materials into works of art. Join Alchemy Arts for a wild time with this hands-on, arts and craft workshop.

Seaside Science: Summer fun!

Saturday 28 June – Sunday 17 August

Keep checking our website for news of our forthcoming summer programme featuring activities for all the family.

44 What’s on We love puffins – and to honour all things puffin’tastic, we are planning a 10-day celebration with fun, games, activities and events for the whole family.

With the Year of Homecoming in full swing, we are celebrating our own homecoming – for our beloved puffins!

The iconic puffin is the most popular seabird in the country and by May the puffin populations of the islands of Craigleith, Fidra and the Isle of May will have reached their peak.

Between the 16 and 26 May we will host Scotland’s first ever Puffin Fest, a new wildlife-based festival that the whole family will enjoy.

Scotland’s first Puffin Fest coming soon The full plans are yet to be unveiled, but we are planning a fun-filled celebration of these wonderful and iconic birds with a plethora of activities such as puffin trails; special puffin-spotting cruises on the Puffin Express; an expert talks programme; puffin-themed art exhibition plus of course the opportunity to zoom in on the live puffin action with our interactive live cameras in the Discovery Centre.

The full programme will be announced soon: keep your eyes peeled on the website,

Facebook, twitter, your inbox for our emails, and around the Centre for what’s happening when.

We are very excited and hope you will be too – it will puff’initley be a must-visit event this May!

45 What’s on Our friends at the RSPB have lots going on in May and June.

Scottish Birdfair

11 – 12 May Hopetoun House South Queensferry RSPB Scotland is hosting the third annual Scottish Birdfair from 11 to 12 May at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry.

The festival is a celebration of Scotland’s spectacular wildlife and natural environment.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with exciting activities including nature walks, seabird cruises, lectures from experts, bird-ringing demonstrations, children’s activities and lots more.

There will be an array of arts and crafts, natural history books, and top-of-the-range optics on offer, along with the very best in locally-sourced and produced food.

It’s all for a good cause. Each year an iconic Scottish species is selected as the focal point for the Birdfair, and in 2014, it’s the turn of the kittiwake. These lovely birds spend much of their lives at sea, coming ashore only in spring to breed and raise young, in large, spectacular cliff-side colonies.

Sadly, kittiwakes, along with many other seabirds, have been suffering declines in recent years. This is due to a variety of factors, including the impact of climate change on their food supply. The Scottish Birdfair will raise awareness of their plight and the campaign to protect them.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.scottishbirdfair.org.uk

Big Wild Sleepout This summer, RSPB Scotland is encouraging families across the country to get outdoors and participate in 2nd annual Big Wild Sleepout (16 – 22 June).

The event is the perfect opportunity to discover what flies, crawls and sings in your garden long after the sun goes down.

The charity is asking families to pitch a tent, unroll the sleeping bags and take part in fun activities to get more

acquainted with the nocturnal creatures and spectacles we might miss when tucked up in our beds.

There are lots of ways to get involved, whether camping in your own back garden or at a participating RSPB nature reserve.

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/ thingstodo/sleepout/ for more information and to register.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Gannet fun galore!

46 Kids As the gannets are ‘home’ we have some gannet games for little ones.

Can you speak gannet?

Have you seen me on the cameras yet?

Fledging fun!

I’m a spotty, young gannet called a guga.

I am ready to leave the nest and head to the sea. Can you help me find two routes to the edge of the cliff so I can jump off?

Bass Rock is a very busy place! To help our seabird city run smoothly we have a special gannet language using our beaks!

Draw a line between each picture and its meaning. You can find more information in the Bass Rock Zone...

Gannet search D A J Z B Y K B I M H W A L G E V F I S H T U H

E D F G H J K E B A S S R O C K

W D T Y U M N B E V G C D S R W

G C Z U A Q P I G Y I E G K L N

J D H W V A M G

F G A N N E T S

Beak-fencing

Bowing

Sky-pointing

“ This is my nest ”

“ You are “ I’m my mate” about to take off ”

I’m Europe’s largest seabird.

I catch big fish by diving into the water at 60 mph! Can you find the following words all linked to the incredible lives of gannets...

DIVE BASS ROCK FISH WINGS EGG GANNET GUGA BLUE Spring showers! Colour in this super-cute illustration (opposite) by artist Emma Ball. Take a pic of your colouring in and email it to us at info@seabird.org. The best one will win a prize and feature in our next magazine. Good luck!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

5 April - 5 May 2014

SAVE THE DATES! NORTH BERWICK 4-10 AUGUST 2014 www.fringebythesea.com

Over 100 events Scotland’s most family friendly wildlife festival www.facebook.com/wildseasonsDG twitter.com/WildSeasonsDG www.pinterest.com/wildseasons

www.wildseasons.co.uk

Binoculars & Telescopes www.opticron.co.uk

New Discovery WP PC Using an ultra-compact optical design the Discovery WP PC series are among the smallest waterproof roof prism binoculars available on the market today.

5 year guarantee.

8x32 £169, 8x42 £179, 10x42 £189

New MM3 50 ED Just 205mm/8” long and weighing about the same as a pair of lightweight binoculars these high performance 50mm ED scopes deliver stunning clarity and magnifications 4x or 5x greater than a binocular. 30 year guarantee.

Prices start from just £299. Recommended eyepieces: HDF T 12-36x £199, SDLv2 12-36x £289 Opticron equipment can be tried, tested and purchased at the Scottish Seabird Centre. For more information and opening times telephone 01620 890202 Opticron. Unit 21, Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds, LU4 8EF UK Email: sales@opticron.co.uk

Professor Egghead and the survival of the fittest

5 to 21 April, 14:00-15:00 www.seabird.org

Good Friday, SUPEr SUnday The

Easter Festival

Friday 18th April & Sunday 20th April

Packages, advance bookings and group discounts available online:

www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk

STEP ON BOARD Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction Follow in the footsteps of royalty when you step on board The Royal Yacht Britannia.

Discover how the Royal Family and 220 crew lived. See where Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned, and where celebrities and world leaders were entertained.

When you buy your ticket for Britannia, you are entitled to a free Annual Pass to come back and visit all year round. Please ask for details when you arrive.

Come and visit us soon

10% off admission Terms and Conditions: 10% off admission for up to five people when you show this advert. Not valid with any other offer or for advance tickets.Valid until 30 June, 2014. Ref:1310. No photocopies.

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk Tel: 0131 555 5566 Britannia is owned and cared for by a charitable trust and all income is invested in preserving the ship for future generations (registered charity SC028070).